Cropping Systems In Northeast Oklahoma Bob Woods Area Extension Agronomy Specialist

NE Ag Statistics (2002 Census) 21 Northeast OK Counties 61% of the State’s Cow Calf Inventory 34 % of broilers in 7 counties (78,968,554 birds) 88,921 tons of litter 4.9 M $ of fertilizer nutrients Enough to fertilize 44,460 Wheat A for 40 Bu yield goal Farm size approximately ½ of State Average (200 vs. 400 Acres)

NE Ag Statistics (2006) 21 Northeast OK Counties State Acres 380,000 270,000 310,000 5,700,000 District Acres 30,300 38,300 7,700 148,000 185,000 % of state Acres 8 14 3 48 % of state Production 7 11 5 55 3 Crop Alfalfa Corn Grain Sorghum Soybean Wheat

Major Crops of Northeast OK Forages Bermudagrass Fescue Native Range Crops Wheat Soybeans Corn Major Factors Climate Soil

36” 42” 45”

Rainfall Comparisons 5 Counties

67% > 12 inches Average 13.65 84% > 10 inches

Rainfall Expectations Fall - 6 inches (87%) Winter – 4 inches (86%) Spring – 10 inches (84%) Summer – 8 inches (77%) Total – 28 inches

Water Holding Capacity of Various Soils Soil Type Soil Depth (feet) Total Water Holding Capacity (inches) Water Holding Capacity (per foot) Perc Rate Surface only (in/hr) Taloka 5 10 2 0.6-2 Dennis 9 1.8 Bates 2.5 Parsons 4 8.2 1.4 Port 6.7 12 Verdigris 11 2.2 Osage >5 9.9 2.0 0.2-.6 Choska 5.5 8.3 1.5 (Summarized from information found in NRCS Soil Surveys).

Soil Consideration 20 to 25 inches of water used by a corn crop Transpiration April 1 to July 20, 2006 – 21.87 (mesonet) Approximately 1.8 inches of moisture retention capability per foot in a silt loam soil.

Soil Consideration Mason Soil - 9 in. H2O Retention Taloka Soil - 3.8 in. H2O in the topsoil Average Rainfall Mar. - July (Muskogee) 20.56 inches Transpiration 22 inches Less Taloka 4 inches Rainfall Needed 18 inches Mason water retention estimate used in this example is to a depth of 60 inches. Taloka is a good upland soil typical of the cherokee prairies. It has a topsoil depth of approximately 24 inches with an nderlying clay layer that has a very slow water infiltration rate and consequently this estimate is based only on the water retained in the top 24 inches. With the water holding capacity of soil and a typical rainfall pattern reasonable corn yields can be expected. Spring – 10 inches (84%) Summer – 8 inches (77%)

In Eastern Oklahoma you are always 2 weeks away from a drought. Notes from Dr. McMurphy’s Agron 3213 “Pasture Management and Forage Production”

Inherently low pH, phosphorus, and potassium Soil Fertility Inherently low pH, phosphorus, and potassium

Muskogee County pH 2006 362 samples Range 4.2 – 7.7

Muskogee County P index 2006 362 samples Range 2 - 2120

Muskogee County K Index 2006 362 samples Range 56 – 2301

No P and K

K Deficiencies

Bermudagrass/Fertilizer Demo. Mayes Co Bermudagrass/Fertilizer Demo. Mayes Co. Fertilized May 12, Harvested August 5, 1997 Yield lb./a Nitrogen Rate

61% of the State’s Cow/Calf Inventory Bermudagrass/Fescue Native Range Legumes Cool Season Annuals

Growth Distribution by Month

Nitrogen Fertilizer needed by different Management Schemes Using Introduced Forages A/Cow Unit 10 – 14 5 4 3 2 1.5 Forage needed Tons/A .6 1.2 – 1.6 1.5 – 2 2 – 2.7 3 – 4 4 – 5.3 N req. Lbs/A 30 – 50 50 – 70 70 – 105 120 – 170 170 - 235 N req. Lbs/cow 150 – 250 200 – 280 210 – 315 240 – 340 255 - 353 Reasonably Safe

Most Fescue KY 31 E+

Cool Season Perennial Grass Trial ERS Planted 1996 Picture Taken Spring 2000

Rainfall for McIntosh County (1971-2000) Fertilize Warm Season Grasses Fertilize Introduced Pastures Fertilize Cool Season Grasses Topdress Warm Season

Range Site Productivity McIntosh County Soil Survey - 1981 Range Site Normal Year Claypan Prairie 3,000 Deep Sand Savannah 2,800 Loamy Prairie 5,500 Loamy Savannah 3,500 Sandy Savannah 3,500 Shallow Claypan 2,600 Shallow Prairie 2,600 Shallow Savannah 2,000

Other Introduced Forages Legumes (Attention to Management) Ryegrass (We have fescue) Wheat Pasture (We have mud issues due to perched water table in winter and spring)

Soybeans Early Planted April 1 to April 15 Maturity Groups III and IV Harvest in August Full Season Planted in June Maturity Groups IV, V, VI Harvest in October Double Crop after Wheat Planted June 15 to July 5 Maturity Group V Harvest in late October

Rainfall and Crop Management Early Planted Soybeans Harvest

Rainfall and Crop Management Full Season and Double Cropped Soybeans Plant Harvest

Corn Plant near frost free date March 20 to April 5 105 to 120 day Hybrids Mature August 1 Harvest in August

Rainfall and Crop Management Corn Plant Harvest 105 to 120 day corn

Crops don’t always follow the book

Why 105 to 120 days to maturity? agweather.mesonet.org

GDD’s April 1 – August 1, 2007

Wheat Less grazing (waterlogged soils) Less ryegrass problem (rotation) Higher yields (higher rainfall) A good fit in the rotation

Cropping System in Northeast Oklahoma Typical 3 crop 2 year Rotation Plant Corn April 1, Harvest in Aug Plant Wheat in Sept./Oct., Harvest in June Plant Soybeans in June, Harvest in Oct./Nov

Cropping System in Northeast Oklahoma Weed Control Most Soybeans and Corn are RR SU’s in wheat (?’s) Rotation helps!!

No-Till in NE OK Motivation is not erosion or moisture conservation Driving forces are labor, equipment, and timing Continues to increase but slow because of problems caused by planting summer crops in cold wet soil

Other Crops Vegetables – Greens, Cantaloupes, Watermelon, Squash, Green Beans, Purple Hull Peas Grain Sorghum (if corn fails) Alfalfa Turf Pecans Canola

Cropping Systems in NE OK Its all about fitting the crop to the climate and the soil! With added factors such as, market, labor, tradition, etc.